…according to the Igbo Imam, religious leadership must complement government efforts to promote harmony and stability.
ABUJA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | First Igbo Imam of the Abuja National Mosque, Haroun Eze, has thrown his support behind Niger State Governor Umar Bago’s controversial directive that religious leaders must submit their sermons to the government for vetting before delivery.
Governor Bago’s policy has stirred heated debate across the country, with critics questioning its implications for freedom of worship and expression. The governor, however, insists the move is necessary to prevent hate speech and ensure that religious messages foster peace and national unity.
Reacting during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Monday, the Igbo Imam described the initiative as a “welcome development,” arguing that it would help religious leaders and the state government work together to tackle pressing issues facing the nation.
“The Niger State government is interested in what is coming from religious leaders to the populace in addressing the social, economic, and security issues we have,” the Igbo Imam stated.
According to Eze, religious leadership must complement government efforts to promote harmony and stability. He stressed that sermons and teachings delivered in mosques and churches play a vital role in shaping the values and behaviour of citizens, and therefore should encourage peaceful coexistence.
“Religious leadership should be seen to work hand in hand in terms of promoting good governance,” Eze continued. “What the Imam, Pastor or the Reverend is doing is dishing out information and materials to shape the mind and character of the citizenry, and that should crystallize into better citizens, governance, relationships, and having peace within one another.”
Eze’s support for the vetting policy highlights the growing call for faith-based messages to contribute to national development and reduce religiously motivated tensions. His remarks also reflect a belief that religious platforms, when properly guided, can help instil discipline, foster unity, and strengthen Nigeria’s socio-political fabric.
The debate over Bago’s directive is likely to continue, but the Igbo Imam’s endorsement signals that some influential voices within the religious community view government oversight as a constructive step rather than an infringement on religious freedoms.
